Music flickers/crackles in Windows Media Player when browsing the Internet

Hi,

If this is a new OEM system that shipped with Windows 7, please contact the OEM as they have specific information on their systems.

Thanks,

Chris

It's built by a Mom-and-pop shop, and they have no idea what the problem is.

Thanks for the suggestion, though.

Darryl Gittins

Hi,

If this is a new OEM system that shipped with Windows 7, please contact the OEM as they have specific information on their systems.

Thanks,

Chris

Thanks Ara, but I don't see any relationship between the problem and hard disk activity. The problem grows and grows depending on Web traffic. Eventually, the noise is very bad when I do anything Web related, as the tests with the DPC latency tool show 

• the problem temporarily disappears when I disable the network adapter.

Nonetheless, thanks for reading my post!!

My specs (it's a new system - only had it a few months):

Windows 7 Enterprise x64 

Intel  Quad CPU Q8200 @ 2.33GHz 

Memory Configuration 8 GB DIMM DDR Synchronous

NVIDIA GeForce GT 220 and GeForce 6200

American Megatrends BIOS Date: 03/12/09 10:04:29 Ver: 08.00.14 A_M_I_ - 3000912 20090312

DVD-RAM Model HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50

(Realtek) High Definition Audio

nVIDIA GT216 - High Definition Audio Controller

P5QL PRO  ASUSTeK Intel Socket 775

What is the MOBO make and model?

What Video Display card?

I used to see this quite often with older VIA based northbridges.

Some minor crosstalk with NIC traffic, and heavy crosstalk during HDD read/writes.

I've got the same problem. I've tried all the suggestions from Azam K with no luck. The problem is not specific to Windows Media Player - it happens in any media player.

I've installed all the latest drivers for all devices in the system. I've tried using 3 different external sound cards including USB AND PCI based units, installed Codec packs, disabled speaker effects (enhancements), reset the BIOS to the factory default settings, flashed the BIOS, turned off Aero to use a basic theme, uninstalled and disabled any energy saving software, disabled unnecessary devices in the BIOS, tried countless registry tweaks, and so on. This problem is bullet-proof, it seems.

I tested using the DPC Latency checker and I see huge spikes after a few hours use that coincide with the audio problems. If I disable the network adapter (NIC), latency immediately drops to green levels and sound is good. However, if I then re-enable the network adapter, DPC latency  immediately spikes perpetually into the red and I hear the crackles and stutters.  I've tried 5 different NICS and clearly some are worse than others, but they all eventually show DPC latency spikes and therefore affect the audio.

The net result is I can't listen to music, unless I reboot first, and then after a few hours the latency spikes return and the audio starts going awry.

I'm using the latest drivers. What else could the commonality be that causes this other than the operating system? I've never had this problem in any other OS. Is it a problem in Windows 7? It seems that way. I've been on the Mp3 bandwagon since the late 90's with dozens of computers and every Microsoft operating system under the sun and I've never run into such a major audio issue as this.

Darryl Gittins